100 Algerians injured in protest against state of emergency

At least 100 people were wounded and several others were arrested in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the  capital on Saturday over a state of emergency in place since 1992, Al Arabiya TV reports.

Said Sadi, head of the Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD) which called for the demonstration, said several people were arrested and others were injured, according to Al Arabiya TV.
Among those arrested was the head of the party’s parliamentary group, Othmane Amazouz, he said.
Al Arabiya correspondent in the capital Algiers said crowds of demonstrators travelled to the capital from different parts of the country to protest the continued state of emergency and a hike in food prices.
Following the cancellation of the second round of Algeria’s first multi-party elections, which the Islamic Salvation Front looked set to win, a state of emergency was imposed on Feb. 9, 1992 by the Algerian authorities for 12 months. A year later, the state of emergency was extended indefinitely.
The government had warned people not to show support for the demonstration in a statement issued on the eve of the march, amid fears of popular unrest spreading from neighboring Tunisia.
“Citizens are asked to show wisdom and vigilance and not respond to possible provocation aimed at disturbing their tranquility, peace of mind and serenity,” said the statement, carried by the official news agency APS.
About 300 people had defied a ban to attempt to hold the demonstration but were confronted by dozens of police armed with batons, tear gas and plexiglas shields.
The RCD said it would defy the official ban after authorities prevented it from holding an initial protest last Tuesday.
“Marches are not allowed in Algiers” the statement warned, adding that “all assemblies on public roads are considered a breach of public order”.

Regime ‘terrified’

Algerian journalist Rashid Boudrai said, “The regime of Bouteflika is terrified by any political activity of the opposition, and under the 1992 state of emergency, authorities have banned demonstrations and crushed popular uprising.”
Boudrai added that the government “does not negotiate except with armed Islamists because they are able to inflict damage on it.”
He said the regime exploits divisions among opposition forces and a situation of despair among many people.
Algerians will mark the 19th anniversary of the state of emergency in place on February 9, and Boudrai expects more opposition parties and civil society groups to join their forces in larger demonstrations.

Source: AlArabiya.net